pros and cons to wheel spacers
#1
11-14-2014 | 06:46 PM
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pros and cons to wheel spacers
I just found a few wheel spacers from 1" to up to 2" and was wondering about the pro's and cons to using something that wide on my 97 f-150 Extra cab 4x4 I would assume it was cause added stress on the bearings but wanted to know how much and if anyone out there has used them and any problems that were caused by them. was thinking about maybe a 1" to 1.5" max to give to a little bit wider stance. but wanted to do some research to decide if it was worth it. would really rather go with a long travel suspension but cant afford it at the moment.
I even found some that convert from 5 lug to 6 lug so was interested in pro's ad cons for those also
I even found some that convert from 5 lug to 6 lug so was interested in pro's ad cons for those also
#2
11-14-2014 | 07:28 PM
There's a lot of information on this site if you search for it, however a quick run down would be:
If you must get spacers, you need to go with the kind that have studs pressed in not the ones that just slip over your old studs. The smallest you can get is 1.5" and even that will require trimming roughly .5" off the factory studs.
Now for the cons: they're inherently unsafe. Your adding another thing that can fail, but if it fails it can result in you losing a wheel. You need to regularly check and make sure they're torqued properly, generally every oil change at the least. Added stress to your wheel bearings which aren't the cheapest things to replace, etc.
The only pro I can think of it gives you a wider stance without having to buy the correct wheel to get the stance. But a set of quality spacers can run close to what a set of wheels run anyway.
As for the 5 lug to 6 lug conversions, those by design are more unsafe than the spacer that keeps the same pattern.
Personally, I would never put them on my truck and I wouldn't recommend them.
If you must get spacers, you need to go with the kind that have studs pressed in not the ones that just slip over your old studs. The smallest you can get is 1.5" and even that will require trimming roughly .5" off the factory studs.
Now for the cons: they're inherently unsafe. Your adding another thing that can fail, but if it fails it can result in you losing a wheel. You need to regularly check and make sure they're torqued properly, generally every oil change at the least. Added stress to your wheel bearings which aren't the cheapest things to replace, etc.
The only pro I can think of it gives you a wider stance without having to buy the correct wheel to get the stance. But a set of quality spacers can run close to what a set of wheels run anyway.
As for the 5 lug to 6 lug conversions, those by design are more unsafe than the spacer that keeps the same pattern.
Personally, I would never put them on my truck and I wouldn't recommend them.
#3
11-14-2014 | 07:56 PM
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OP - Do it right - get wheels with the correct offset & backspacing fer yer intended application. Spacers are fer Space Cadets.... er ricers.....
#4
11-17-2014 | 11:51 AM
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